Liberated. The best games coming in June 2020

Release date: June 2, 2020

What exactly is Liberated?

Created for the Nintendo Switch (and other hardware platforms in the future), this is an action platformer game with strong stealth elements. Liberated stands out with its unique visual setting, heavily inspired by the noir aesthetics and stylized for a comic book. It is the debut project of Warsaw-based studio Atomic Wolf.

What's the plot of Liberated about?

Liberated takes place in a dystopian reality where citizens remain under strict control of the government, which doesn't shy away from violating human rights. A group of daredevils calling themselves the Liberated are at war with the regime. The takes place over four chapters, each focusing on a different hero from different sides of the barricade.

What is the gameplay like in Liberated?

The action of Liberated is shown from the side, and the game uses 2.5D technique – all models and environments are three-dimensional, but it's not possible to move the camera in 3D. The pivotal element of the game is silent exploration. We traverse gloomy levels and deal with enemies by observing patrol routes and quietly eliminating them or seeking alternative paths. In the long run, however, it will be impossible to avoid confrontation. The game is also using quick time events and a dialogue system that allows limited influence on the plot.

1. More about Liberated

OUR EXPECTATIONS

Not a bad thing. The original Max Payne offered an explosive mix of noir and comic-book stylistics, and the creators of Liberated seem to be taking the idea a step further. I do not expect anything but solid derivativeness, but with the thick aesthetics, the debut from Atomic Wolf will be worth the buck.

Mike Grygorcewicz

Now I'm not waiting for this game half as anxiously as my brother (and he doesn't even know it). My 40-year-old brother always gives me a headache asking what video games I recommend. We've known each other for more than a quarter of a century, at least half of which we've spent playing together – and yet he always surprises me with his complaints. Fortunately, I have discovered the one magic ingredient. 2.5D isometric perspective. I really can't wait to show Liberated to him.

But, of course, I'm not just buying it for the perspective. I played the demo, and I'm certain there's plenty to look forward to. More. I don't really play platformer games, but this one looks like something I'll be willing to spend more time with – I love the drawn graphics, comic book-like composition and cyberpunk settings. Hope my brother likes it.

Chris Mysiak